The victim is Jermaine Whitehead, 37, of Syracuse, a former state convict. He served a sentence of 4 to 8 years beginning in 2003 for criminal possession of a controlled substance and was paroled in 2008, according to state records.

Whitehead previously served a sentence of 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in state prison after he was convicted in 1994 for assault and criminal possession of a weapon, according to state records.

Sgt. Tom Connellan said police responded to a report of shots fired in the area around 4:45 a.m. They found shell casings in the area but did not see a victim.

The body was discovered around 8:15 by a resident who saw the body behind a shed in his yard in the 300 block of Furman Street, between Cortland and Midland avenues.

Furman Street homicideSyracuse police responded to a report of a shooting around 8:15 a.m. Saturday. A police spokesman said the department is investigating a homicide. Police had taped off Furman Street and an adjoining street.

Connellan said police don't know if the homicide is related to the early shots-fired complaint.

He also said there was a party in the area earlier in the day.

Police are asking that anyone with information about Whitehead's death to call detectives at 442-5222.